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The Greatest Grand Prix Final of all Time!

Terry Gannon: " Hello everyone, and welcome to the 2003-2004 Grand Prix Final. To my left is Olympic Champion, Peggy Fleming, and to my right is the always opinionated Dick Button. It's just about time to start our live coverage of the ladies free skate, and let me tell you folks, it has been a very interesting competition."

Peggy: " Well, yes Terry , that's right. This year we have been priveleged yet again with the grace of skaters like Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, Sarah Hughes, and many others. However, this competition has resembled more of a blast from the past. To everyones surprise, Tanya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and the always innovative and interesting Surya Bonaly decided early in the season to compete in the Grand Prix events. It is very odd that almost all the skaters here at the final are American, and even more difficult to comprehend that many of these skaters have decided to reappear on the skating scence after nearly 10 years, but it is certainly exciting. Perhaps the skater here getting the most attention is Tanya Harding, for obvious reasons. We know that many of you at home are probably wanting to know Tanya's reasons for coming back to eligible competition, so here we are with the story."

(Video starts with the Nancy Kerrigan knee incident.)
Tanya: " It's been hard dealing with all of the negative pressure and mean , hurtful things that have happened to me, but I will always stay true to myself. I know that I wasn't involved, and as long as I know, that is what is most important."

Interviewer: "Was it Tanya? Was it another, unknown party? Was Nancy simply faking it? Was she buckling under the pressure? These are just a few of the questions..... the unanswered questions.
After the "Whack heard 'round the world", Tanya seemed to go into a downward spiral, and I don't mean the spirals that we refer to in skating. Falls haunted her during important programs. Skate blades started becoming faulty. Laces were untying themselves and breaking. Was this simply a cry for attention? Was someone trying to seek revenge on Tanya? Was there, yet again , another unknown party?"
( Pictures of Nancy , Tanya, and close friends flash on the screen.)
Interviewer: " Describe the chain of events after the Olympics."

Tanya: " Well..... I have always been a pretty strong person. I think that my resilience for the last 10 years is proof of that. But, I think that at first , the pressure of everything just started piling up. Um.... people have accused me of seeking attention with my laces breaking, and my blades having problems, and stuff, but I really don't care anymore."

Interviewer: " Well, Tanya, there have been a lot of stories involving you on the news. There was the wrestling , the racecar driving.... I mean, what was that all about?"

Tanya: "Well, I know that the skating world won't really support me anymore, so I felt during that time that I needed to try new things. I have always been interested in wrestling, and I really enjoyed that. At first they wanted me to use a club when I was performing, to capitalize off of Nancy, and join the WWF, or whatever it is now, but that was really hurtful and after that, I knew that I couldn't go on with a serious career in proffesional wrestling. So, I went to racecar driving. Racecar driving is something I have always been real excited about, and I think it was time to explore new avenues."

Interviewer: " What was it then that compelled you to come back to skating after all these years?"

Tanya: "Well, i will always be a skater in my heart, and nobody can take that away from me. Not the media, not the skating federations, and associations, not the public. Nobody. I think that I belong on the ice, and I will always be competitive."

(Story concludes with live coverage of Tanya warming up. She is wearing a bright orange dress, with purple and green flames. She is skating to a rock medley.)

Terry: " Hmmm. Well , lets get back to our coverage of the Grand Prix. Dick , we will start with you."

Dick: " As always, the skating competitions you watch in person and on television are full of scrumptious skaters with bubbly personalities, great competitors, gaudy costumes, odd music, and at times atrocious choreography. This year...... is no different. Now, I am an old timer. I like the classical, lyrical numbers. Not the ritzy , over - the - top , chintzy costumes, but the simple elegant ones. But skaters to...."

Terry: " Well our producer is telling us it is time for a commercial break."

Dick: " As I was saying..... skaters today seem to go for these dispicable program choices and it is just going too far in my opinion. Anyway... back to our commercial break."

Terry: "Welcome back to the ladies competition. We will go ahead and start off with the ordinals.
In first place, after the short pragrams, is Michelle Kwan. She skated to a very interesting piece of music, and obviously the judges liked it."

Peggy: "Tanya skated with a lot of determination out there, and she definitely got the job done. SHe started off with a huge triple lutz, triple toe combination, followed by a nice flip and a nice triple axel. However, lack of artistry prevented her from pulling up ahead of Michelle. Her music choice was also interesting, although Tanya is known for erratic program choices."

Dick: " I really thought that the music was terrible. Anywho... In third place was Nancy Kerrigan, who as always showed classic taste, along with a little pizzazz. She skated solidly, except for a touch down on her triple flip. And that unfortunate mistake is what forced her into the 3rd spot."

Peggy:" Surya Bonaly skated cleanly, however her rough style cost her. Overall, she is in fourth place so far. She is unmistakeable on the ice out there right now. She is wearing fishnet tights, appearantly orange, with bright green crystals, and a bright blue dress. Her music choice must be as interesting as her music choice in the short program."

Terry: " Sarah Hughes took a rough fall on the triple flip, which place the olympic champ in a disappointing sixth place. Sasha Cohen had problems on the double axel, placing her in fifth after the short."

Dick: " This is a very intese warm up out here. All of these skaters are focused , determined, and are all out there to get the job done.... Ohhh.. a close call between Tanya and Sarah out there. "

Peggy: " Well, I think we might.... oh, Surya nearly hit Sasha. This is rough........anyway, I think we may be seeing many close calls out there. As you may assume, there are a lot of rivalries out there, unsettled problems, and title- hungry skaters out there. There are older, more experienced skaters, young , talented new comers, and they are all fighting for a spot at the top of that podium. This may be the most exciting competition in the history of the sport."

Terry: "We're back folks and the long programs for the ladies are just now getting underway. First to take the ice will be Sarah Hughes, olympic gold medalist."

Peggy:"She starts off her program with an easy double axel."
(landed)

Dick: "Now , this next jump coming up is a triple lutz, double toe loop combination. She has gotten endless criticism on the lutz, because she takes off on the wrong edge, turning the jump into a less difficult flip, or flutz jump. She has had plenty of time to fix this problem over the summer, so let's see how much progress she has made...................Well, she landed it, but I must say, she is still taking off on that inside edge. This really is unacceptable. At this level of skating, when you have had that much time to fix a problem, this is just not right. Skaters need to kick it up a notch. They can't make mistakes on such easy jumps."

Peggy: " Dick , you never even did a triple lutz, so how can you call it easy?"

Dick: " In my day and age, we didn't have the equipment and the discoveries pertaining to the mechanics of these jumps. With all of these advantages, a triple lutz should be a walk in the park."

(Peggy rolls eyes)

Peggy: " Well, Sarah does a second triple lutz -"

Dick: "CahhFLUTZachoo"

Peggy: "Bless you Dick..at 1:45 into her program. I really think she has made huge strides in cleaning up the take-off on that jump. Oh, and here is her layback. Ohhh, she really has the most exquisite layback in the world. And now she is going into her triple loop. She has such great nerves at competitions. I don't think pressure even exists for Sarah. And that takes us back to her breathtaking performance at the 2002 Olympic Games. Oh I will never forget her beauty , grace , style.............."

(Peggy does the rest of the commentating during Sarah's long program. Sarah skates well, but falls on a triple flip. Commercial break)

Terrry: "And we are back with the delightful skating of one of the hottest skaters this year, Sasha Cohen."

(Sasha takes the ice.)

Dick:" I call her a baby ballerina that has blossomed into a beautiful flower. She has it all. Grace. Charm. Technical ability. Drama. Charisma. She just has to pull it all together into a perfect program at competitions. She won here last year, but with the return of skaters like Tanya and Nancy, she is going to have to work even harder to defend her title. She certainly is a wonderful delight. Watching her skate is like eating a bowl of ice cream.... you can never get enough."

Peggy: " Well, she just completed a nice triple lutz, triple toe combination. She is off to a good start here in her long program."

Terry: " Now, had the old judging system been in place here, Sasha probably wouldn't have a chance at the gold medal, but with the new scoring program, she has her destiny in her own hands, even with placing in 5th after the short."

Peggy: "Yes , that is right Terry."

Terry:"So Dick, with the strong showing of American Ladies here, do you think we have a chance at sweeping the podium?"

Dick: "Well, I would certainly say so. Consider this. The last time we swept worlds, it was Kristy , Tanya, and Nancy. Now, we have two out of three here, plus three other up and coming talents. Although, Michelle has already proven her greatness. Sasha has already won here, and Sarah is an Olympic champion. Now, you tell me, do you think we have a chance? haha."

Peggy: "Wow, I have never seen Sasha skate with this much focus before. She only has two more jumps to go. She has skated cleanly so far, so let's hope that she can keep it together. "

Dick: " And she lands her triple salchow , double toe combination. There is only a double axel now standing between her and a perfect program. This is a dangerous jump here, and you never know just what will happen when you take off on a forward outside edge and rotate 2 and 1/2 times in the air, landind on a blade that is about 1/8 of an inch thick."

Peggy: " Ohhh, she lands it!! Did you hear that?"

Terry: " I have just gotten word in that Tanya Harding has thrown something out on the ice in a fit of anger, and has yelled out in a frustrated manner. It looks like she threw a blade guard."

Dick:" And mind you, Sasha still has her footwork sequence left, and the blade guard is right in her path."

Peggy: " Why haven't the judges blown the whistle? Oh, I can't watch this. Her footwork is already so complicated. I hope she sees it."

Dick: " SHe is approaching it,and, what is she doing ? She does a sweeping motion and picks up the blade guard. She is using in sword-like motions, and she is skating right by Tanya now, and she throws it back at Tanya. Well, my my. I wonder if this will be considered using a prop."

Peggy: "Well, the judges didn't seem to care when Tanya threw it , so why would they when sasha does. And Sasha concludes her first clean program on the world scene! This should definitely be a night to remember."

LOL! this hasn't been written on in over a month. Please finish, gotta know who wins, lol.
(That could really happen, of all the people, if Tonya threw something at, Katarina Witt and Sasha would be the ones to pick it up in the middle of a performance and throw it back!).

Sorry it has taken me so long! My computer crashed, but I have a new one now. I can't really write right now because I have a lot to do, but I promise I will type in the next few days, unless my computer breaks down again. haha

Peggy:"Well, as we said earlier, her choice dress is certainly unusual."

Dick: "Oh Peggy, just shut it. You know you think the dress is hideous, so just say it. I mean, this competition is completely unorthodox. True feelings are coming out with the return of Tanya and Nancy especially. This competition isn't about politeness and merrymakings. The Tanya-Sasha blade guard incident should make that clear. I for one think the dress is atrocious. If I was one of those judges, I'd give her last just for it. And this music!!! What is this, might I ask?"

Terry: " My notes here say that it is ...accordian polka with a touch of ...xylophone."

Peggy: " I can't help it if I have tact and you don't Mr. Button."

Dick: "I can't help it if I am honest and you aren't."

(Peggy flashes many dirty looks at Dick. Dick looks satisfied. Terry seems uneasy.)
Terry: " Well..ummmmm... what jump was that Peggy? Surya landed it with a little ....umm.....hesitation."
Peggy:" Why don't you ask Mr. Harvard Alumni over there? He seems to know everything about the sport."
Dick: "Peggy, you are wise beyond your years. Well, actually, for your years, you're about right. Anyway, that was a triple flip, and yes, she certainly didn't land that jump with much conviction."

(Peggy and Dick continue with a few more nasty comments, until they realize that their microphones have been shut off. When they cool down, their microphones are turned back on. Bad feelings are still in the air.)

Terry:"Well Surya just wrapped up a nice performance with only two falls."

Dick:"Only?"
Peggy: "One fall on the triple loop, Mr. Buttons famous jump, and one on triple lutz, a jump that Mr. Button was never able to complete."

Dick: "If Peggy were ever to go to the optometrist, she may finally realize that that jump was a flutz. Would you like the Harvard Alumni to define that word for you Ms. Fleming?"

Terry: "OKAY folks, time for that commercial break. Hopefully it will be a little FRIENDLIER!"

(Skating returns)

Terry: "Now we have Nancy Kerrigan out on the ice for the Grand Prix Final, which has already been renamed as the Grand Prix Fight-all. Nancy is returning with her Olympic program. Do either one of you think this is a message to Tanya?"
Peggy:" Possibly, you never know who your friends are in this sport."
(Peggy flashes a dirty look Dick's way)
Dick: "And sometimes you can see right past the nice appearance."

Terry: "AHEMMM!!! Nancy just landed a triple lutz triple loop combination. Or was it a flutz? I can't tell anymore."
Peggy: "In Dick's opinion everything is a flutz. I for one say it was a nice triple lutz."
Dick: "I would have to agree that it was a very nice lutz Peggy."........................................... ...................